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Lifers
RILEY
Nearly everyone who enters Elsberry leaves in one way or another, but I am the one constant. I am always here. I continue to remain. Time doesn't pass in days between these walls. It passes in people. The girl with peach pink hair who I loved in my head but never got the chance to speak to. The boy that swung from the stairwell because he couldn't love himself enough.
Until Blair steps out of the back of that ambulance, time stops then. Her wrists are wrapped in gauze and her lips are bloodied, but she's more alive than anything else I've seen in some time. Dr. Demosi warns me that I'm fixating again, but what we have is real. I can feel it.
The closer we get, the more I start to believe what they say about how I landed here. I could do it again too, if it means she won't leave me.
BLAIR
If you'd told me three days ago I would still be breathing today, I wouldn't believe you. If you followed that with the knowledge that I'd find something close to love at Elsberry State Psychiatric Institution, I'd say you're full of shit. It's not written into my DNA. I'm incapable of it, right?
Riley is beautiful in a macabre sort of way, with her dark, dead eyes and her hollow cheeks. Her voice is raspy and scratches my fucked up brain just right, like a number two pencil against grainy college-ruled paper. She's more like me than maybe I am myself, more out of her mind than I think she realizes. I could happily live in delusion with her forever, but there's one problem.
I'm getting better. Everyday I work toward getting better with hopes of being released, while Riley is a lifer. Content with swimming in the pool of her illness for eternity, refusing to admit to what she did that landed her here in the first place. Once I find out what that is... it changes everything.
Nearly everyone who enters Elsberry leaves in one way or another, but I am the one constant. I am always here. I continue to remain. Time doesn't pass in days between these walls. It passes in people. The girl with peach pink hair who I loved in my head but never got the chance to speak to. The boy that swung from the stairwell because he couldn't love himself enough.
Until Blair steps out of the back of that ambulance, time stops then. Her wrists are wrapped in gauze and her lips are bloodied, but she's more alive than anything else I've seen in some time. Dr. Demosi warns me that I'm fixating again, but what we have is real. I can feel it.
The closer we get, the more I start to believe what they say about how I landed here. I could do it again too, if it means she won't leave me.
BLAIR
If you'd told me three days ago I would still be breathing today, I wouldn't believe you. If you followed that with the knowledge that I'd find something close to love at Elsberry State Psychiatric Institution, I'd say you're full of shit. It's not written into my DNA. I'm incapable of it, right?
Riley is beautiful in a macabre sort of way, with her dark, dead eyes and her hollow cheeks. Her voice is raspy and scratches my fucked up brain just right, like a number two pencil against grainy college-ruled paper. She's more like me than maybe I am myself, more out of her mind than I think she realizes. I could happily live in delusion with her forever, but there's one problem.
I'm getting better. Everyday I work toward getting better with hopes of being released, while Riley is a lifer. Content with swimming in the pool of her illness for eternity, refusing to admit to what she did that landed her here in the first place. Once I find out what that is... it changes everything.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2024
73 people are currently reading
1407 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
July 23, 2024
"Regulating your emotions doesn’t make you sane; it just makes you a better actor."
This was a pretty raw and somewhat grippingly dark depiction of mental illness told in the perspectives of both Blair and Riley who meet at the psych ward. One of them is there for a lifetime whereas the other is there temporarily. throughout their time together they end up in this obsessive and passionate love affair that offers no HEA and yet— this leaves off on a hauntingly lasting note. I thought the concept was interesting enough as I haven't read a book quite like this one and only wish it were longer
3.5 stars
this is a sapphic dark romance novella with 98 pages and has triggers so do look them up* and thanks to gry for the rec!
"People think of depression as this cold, lonely place inside of your mind, but it isn't always. Sometimes, it's warm, like an electric blanket. It feels like sitting inside of a cottage in the woods, curled up next to a crackling fireplace with a purring cat sitting on your lap. It's nice for a little while because it's familiar."
“All I’ve done is simply exist, and that was enough to make her choose me as her next victim.”
“Pity, because I know that I’m going to rip her apart. It’s what I do, and a part of me likes it. Pity, because she’s going to let me, and a part of her will love the pain. “
June 9, 2024
4.25 ★'s
"If she is death, I am happy to take her hand and walk into the afterlife."
I love books on topics relating to mental health.
And I love women.
This was a very short and sweet novella, and I think that is my only objection to this book.
I would've wanted even more.
On second thought, sweet might not be the right word to describe this.
It is very dark, raw and intriguing however. We follow two patients at Elsberry State Psychiatric, Blair & Riley, their battles with mental illnesses, abusive staff and their growing obsession of one another.
Do check TW's ahead of reading. 🖤
_____________
Pre-read:
I FOUND SOMETHING I WANT TO READ!
I wanted something a lil gay and depressing so this seems right🤭
"If she is death, I am happy to take her hand and walk into the afterlife."
I love books on topics relating to mental health.
And I love women.
This was a very short and sweet novella, and I think that is my only objection to this book.
I would've wanted even more.
On second thought, sweet might not be the right word to describe this.
It is very dark, raw and intriguing however. We follow two patients at Elsberry State Psychiatric, Blair & Riley, their battles with mental illnesses, abusive staff and their growing obsession of one another.
Do check TW's ahead of reading. 🖤
_____________
Pre-read:
I FOUND SOMETHING I WANT TO READ!
I wanted something a lil gay and depressing so this seems right🤭
October 13, 2024
“I could dance with her in the afterlife for all of eternity if only it meant I didn’t have to feel her loss.”
May 28, 2024
Whatever I just read; made me look around like “am I really reading this?” But it was so good; so dark. So fucked. But it was also real and a totally different perspective than anything I’ve read before. If your triggered easily; don’t read. I think the trigger warning page was almost as long as the novella itself. But it is written so well; and will have you stunned and locked on the words. (Maybe I loved it as much as I did because I work in the mental health field🤔)
December 24, 2025
★★★★★
⚠︎[too many to count, sa, self harm, toxicity and possessiveness, suicide attempt and suicide mentioned]
☢︎[quotes]
“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸,” 𝘐 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘵. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.
“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰.”
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
⤳ 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
if this book was a drug i’d be an addict. there’s no reason i should’ve loved this 98 paged book this much. my feelings were hurt, but in the best way ever. this book might as well have marked me like Blair marked Riley cuz this will be with me for a while.
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
⤳ 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
ʀɪʟᴇʏ: the second she showed up i knew she was the one. she redressed and cleaned Blairs sh don’t tell me that isn’t love because i’m gonna tweak the fuck out. BUT BUT SHES A KILLER!! i don’t care.
ʙʟᴀɪʀ: OG BADDIE!! if she had her piercings that psychward wouldn’t be able to tell her shit. she actually makes me ill. i love her. she was extremely relatable but i can’t put my thoughts into words when it comes to her.
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
“𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘱. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳.”
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
⤳ 𝘆𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱
they remind me of Andreil. they’re literally copy and paste. i’m gonna cry, die and roll into a six foot deep hole. is this a novella? yea. do i feel idiotic about giving it a five star just based off the fact it reminds me of the gl version of my favorite characters ever? a little but that’s not stopping me i fear.
this showed the mental illness so good. it made me feel so seen.
ngl i didn’t know Blair was a redhead til like the second to last chapter.
bro every male in this book needs their skin peeled from their bodies, slowly. actually maybe every man ever just to make up for the ones in this book.
i don’t care if it’s completely unrealistic but i believe in my heart that EVENTUALLY Riley escapes ESPI and stalks down her one true love SAD FACE.
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
“𝙄𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ peace‧*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆
—————————
“i finished Lifers!!” no it finished me wtf. rtc, maybe.
⚠︎[too many to count, sa, self harm, toxicity and possessiveness, suicide attempt and suicide mentioned]
☢︎[quotes]
“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸,” 𝘐 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘵. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.
“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰.”
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
⤳ 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
if this book was a drug i’d be an addict. there’s no reason i should’ve loved this 98 paged book this much. my feelings were hurt, but in the best way ever. this book might as well have marked me like Blair marked Riley cuz this will be with me for a while.
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
⤳ 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
ʀɪʟᴇʏ: the second she showed up i knew she was the one. she redressed and cleaned Blairs sh don’t tell me that isn’t love because i’m gonna tweak the fuck out. BUT BUT SHES A KILLER!! i don’t care.
ʙʟᴀɪʀ: OG BADDIE!! if she had her piercings that psychward wouldn’t be able to tell her shit. she actually makes me ill. i love her. she was extremely relatable but i can’t put my thoughts into words when it comes to her.
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
“𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘱. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳.”
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
⤳ 𝘆𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱
they remind me of Andreil. they’re literally copy and paste. i’m gonna cry, die and roll into a six foot deep hole. is this a novella? yea. do i feel idiotic about giving it a five star just based off the fact it reminds me of the gl version of my favorite characters ever? a little but that’s not stopping me i fear.
this showed the mental illness so good. it made me feel so seen.
ngl i didn’t know Blair was a redhead til like the second to last chapter.
bro every male in this book needs their skin peeled from their bodies, slowly. actually maybe every man ever just to make up for the ones in this book.
i don’t care if it’s completely unrealistic but i believe in my heart that EVENTUALLY Riley escapes ESPI and stalks down her one true love SAD FACE.
ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ
“𝙄𝙛 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ peace‧*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆
—————————
“i finished Lifers!!” no it finished me wtf. rtc, maybe.
August 29, 2024
5 Stars
Fuck. I am stunned to silence. I am so overwhelmed I am just writing what I’m feeling right now because brain cells cannot make coherent review. And only 98 pages at that?? What witchcraft is this?? This. This is what genius is for me. Minimalist in words but turns me inside out. This is the “high” I chase and seek out in books and stories. It’s so few and far between. So fleeting and scarce but once it hits, the high is worth the wait.
Fuck. I am stunned to silence. I am so overwhelmed I am just writing what I’m feeling right now because brain cells cannot make coherent review. And only 98 pages at that?? What witchcraft is this?? This. This is what genius is for me. Minimalist in words but turns me inside out. This is the “high” I chase and seek out in books and stories. It’s so few and far between. So fleeting and scarce but once it hits, the high is worth the wait.
May 6, 2024
4.5 rounded up!
dang. what an absolutely crazy and (accurate feeling) book!! i don't really know what else to say haha. it felt overwhelming in a good way, emotionally. that might just be for me after having hospital stays. and just being able to relate with my own highs and lows in my mental health. this book definitely leans heavy into the psychological and does very feel like the all consuming love you can have for someone while in a bad mentality! i kinda think i would love a little prequel for how Riley got where she is and more insight into her!
this is an ARC
dang. what an absolutely crazy and (accurate feeling) book!! i don't really know what else to say haha. it felt overwhelming in a good way, emotionally. that might just be for me after having hospital stays. and just being able to relate with my own highs and lows in my mental health. this book definitely leans heavy into the psychological and does very feel like the all consuming love you can have for someone while in a bad mentality! i kinda think i would love a little prequel for how Riley got where she is and more insight into her!
this is an ARC
September 21, 2024
3.5 stars
glad i read this before the seasonal depression really kicked in bc WHEW this was dark and gritty, but i knew that this was going to touch on the darker side of mental health going into it. check your tw.
my biggest complaint is that it wasn’t longer. yet, in less than 100 pages this managed to capture my attention in a way novellas so rarely do. two women falling into love (but more like a dark and twisted obsession??) with each other told with beautiful, poetic writing? sign me up✔️
glad i read this before the seasonal depression really kicked in bc WHEW this was dark and gritty, but i knew that this was going to touch on the darker side of mental health going into it. check your tw.
my biggest complaint is that it wasn’t longer. yet, in less than 100 pages this managed to capture my attention in a way novellas so rarely do. two women falling into love (but more like a dark and twisted obsession??) with each other told with beautiful, poetic writing? sign me up✔️
February 16, 2025
should’ve been longer and without men.
April 29, 2024
5⭐️
Wow I don’t even have words to describe this book,
For such a small book it took every emotion out of me
We are first introduced to blair the girl who didn’t want to live because it pains her, the girl with the chapped lips in a body that wants to live but her mind wants to end it
We are then introduced to Riley the other mfc a lifer the girl with the soft lips, Who needed control to make living easier who also barely surviving in her body
In the end , Blair became the girl who wanted life whiles Riley became the girl who needed to numb herself again and forget until her next obsession comes in
I’m glad that that author didn’t make this a hea, in the real world situation like this don’t end in a magical happy ever after, we still feel numb and still have bad days, which is completely fine and normal:).
I’m glad I saw this author page popped up on my instagram and I’m glad I applied to read this as a arc, thank you for the arc and I will definitely be reading more from the author:)
Wow I don’t even have words to describe this book,
For such a small book it took every emotion out of me
We are first introduced to blair the girl who didn’t want to live because it pains her, the girl with the chapped lips in a body that wants to live but her mind wants to end it
We are then introduced to Riley the other mfc a lifer the girl with the soft lips, Who needed control to make living easier who also barely surviving in her body
In the end , Blair became the girl who wanted life whiles Riley became the girl who needed to numb herself again and forget until her next obsession comes in
I’m glad that that author didn’t make this a hea, in the real world situation like this don’t end in a magical happy ever after, we still feel numb and still have bad days, which is completely fine and normal:).
I’m glad I saw this author page popped up on my instagram and I’m glad I applied to read this as a arc, thank you for the arc and I will definitely be reading more from the author:)
October 29, 2024
"I taste her in my mouth: her blood, flesh, and spit. This is how I’ve always wanted her, at her most alive"
Girl, interrupted but gayer and more psychotic. Aka the sapphic book of my dreams. Aka what Angelina Jolie wanted that movie to be.
This one's for all the girlies who had a sexual awakening to Lisa Rowe. It's me, hi, I'm the problem. It's me.
Girl, interrupted but gayer and more psychotic. Aka the sapphic book of my dreams. Aka what Angelina Jolie wanted that movie to be.
This one's for all the girlies who had a sexual awakening to Lisa Rowe. It's me, hi, I'm the problem. It's me.
December 20, 2025
why are lesbians so creative A HAIRBRUSH?
June 30, 2024
all men should be six feet underground
May 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this and honestly would have loved to read more. The subject matter was intense at times, so check triggers before reading.
I enjoyed this and honestly would have loved to read more. The subject matter was intense at times, so check triggers before reading.
November 14, 2024
i honestly wish this had been a full length book and not just a novella. i was hooked from page one. i absolutely loved blair and riley’s story. i also felt the ending was perfect. i think a hea would’ve ruined the story
April 21, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🌷Sapphic
🌻Check CWs
🌷Black Cat X Golden Retriever
🌻Morally Gray FMCs
🌷Mental Health Rep
🌻Psych Ward
🌷Feminine Rage
“If she is death, I am happy to take her hand and walk into the afterlife.”
I really enjoyed Lifers. I did save a lot of quotes in this book which is crazy because this is a short length book. It’s a novella in my opinion. I really liked the dynamic between the two characters. I like how they were both different, but they still found common ground.
There is some triggers in here so be aware I don’t get triggered by anything. Trigger examples in this book is a little bit of blood play and mentions of SA. Overall solid four stars. I do wish I got a little bit more at the end, but I do believe that’s the point. I also liked that some of the parts were very descriptive. I feel like having a lot of anxiety and OCD I can relate because I overthink things in my mind. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Thank you for allowing me to ARC read this book.
🌶️🌶️
🌷Sapphic
🌻Check CWs
🌷Black Cat X Golden Retriever
🌻Morally Gray FMCs
🌷Mental Health Rep
🌻Psych Ward
🌷Feminine Rage
“If she is death, I am happy to take her hand and walk into the afterlife.”
I really enjoyed Lifers. I did save a lot of quotes in this book which is crazy because this is a short length book. It’s a novella in my opinion. I really liked the dynamic between the two characters. I like how they were both different, but they still found common ground.
There is some triggers in here so be aware I don’t get triggered by anything. Trigger examples in this book is a little bit of blood play and mentions of SA. Overall solid four stars. I do wish I got a little bit more at the end, but I do believe that’s the point. I also liked that some of the parts were very descriptive. I feel like having a lot of anxiety and OCD I can relate because I overthink things in my mind. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Thank you for allowing me to ARC read this book.
May 27, 2024
this was a quick read but i was so into the story of blair and riley that i completely forgot about the world !!
i absolutely loved the characters in this novella. the black cat x golden retriever dynamic was EVERYTHING !! ugh i miss them so much.
k.c. blume did such an amazing job. i felt all the emotions pour out of me towards the end of the book. i’m glad to see this didn’t end in a hea because it just made me feel even more. this is not a story to be read lightly as it is quite heavy. please check the trigger warning list !!
🌶️🌶️
i absolutely loved the characters in this novella. the black cat x golden retriever dynamic was EVERYTHING !! ugh i miss them so much.
k.c. blume did such an amazing job. i felt all the emotions pour out of me towards the end of the book. i’m glad to see this didn’t end in a hea because it just made me feel even more. this is not a story to be read lightly as it is quite heavy. please check the trigger warning list !!
🌶️🌶️
January 19, 2025
4.5 idc
I love depressed ppl and wlw? So like😂🙏 my two girls fr I LOVE. LOVE. Blair Mitchell. She’s my girl ever like I relate to her. I loved the realistic portrayal of everything and the mental health aspect.
My crazy girls
I love depressed ppl and wlw? So like😂🙏 my two girls fr I LOVE. LOVE. Blair Mitchell. She’s my girl ever like I relate to her. I loved the realistic portrayal of everything and the mental health aspect.
My crazy girls
October 23, 2024
holy shit????? fucking insane but i liked it??????
July 9, 2025
Well fuck..
November 17, 2024
4.5 stars but gladly rounding up
Lifers is not a story—it’s a spectral ache, a melancholic hum that thrums quietly beneath the skin, reminding you that some prisons are built not of bars, but of unspoken scars. In her hauntingly lyrical prose, K.C. Blume paints Elsberry State Psychiatric Institution as a place where humanity is whittled away, piece by fragile piece, a sanctuary turned tomb for those who drift in its whitewashed halls.
Riley and Blair do not simply exist within these pages; they unravel, slowly and deliberately, caught in a place where brokenness is the only common currency. They are raw and open, two hearts laid bare, aching not just to be seen despite their struggles but to be cherished for the very fractures that make them who they are. Blume’s writing cuts close, drawing out the painful beauty of two souls intertwined yet bound by walls that refuse to yield.
This story isn’t expansive—its pages are as contained as the lives it holds. But in that brevity lies its power, like a whispered confession you strain to hear, too precious to last beyond its final breath. Blume writes with an enigmatic sadness, each word steeped in the quiet despair of confinement, yet there is warmth, too, in the tenderness that Riley and Blair find, if only for a moment, in each other.
There is no promise of rescue here, no gentle release from the institution’s silent grip or a HEA. Instead, Lifers offers a glimpse into a love that blooms not despite the darkness but because of it, a love that aches and bleeds yet somehow endures.
K.C. Blume invites readers to lean into that silence, to bear witness to the haunting beauty of lives held in limbo, and to remember, perhaps, that love doesn’t always come in forms that make sense. This is a chilling, melancholic journey, but for those willing to tread it, it’s a journey beautifully worth taking.
Lifers is not a story—it’s a spectral ache, a melancholic hum that thrums quietly beneath the skin, reminding you that some prisons are built not of bars, but of unspoken scars. In her hauntingly lyrical prose, K.C. Blume paints Elsberry State Psychiatric Institution as a place where humanity is whittled away, piece by fragile piece, a sanctuary turned tomb for those who drift in its whitewashed halls.
Riley and Blair do not simply exist within these pages; they unravel, slowly and deliberately, caught in a place where brokenness is the only common currency. They are raw and open, two hearts laid bare, aching not just to be seen despite their struggles but to be cherished for the very fractures that make them who they are. Blume’s writing cuts close, drawing out the painful beauty of two souls intertwined yet bound by walls that refuse to yield.
This story isn’t expansive—its pages are as contained as the lives it holds. But in that brevity lies its power, like a whispered confession you strain to hear, too precious to last beyond its final breath. Blume writes with an enigmatic sadness, each word steeped in the quiet despair of confinement, yet there is warmth, too, in the tenderness that Riley and Blair find, if only for a moment, in each other.
There is no promise of rescue here, no gentle release from the institution’s silent grip or a HEA. Instead, Lifers offers a glimpse into a love that blooms not despite the darkness but because of it, a love that aches and bleeds yet somehow endures.
K.C. Blume invites readers to lean into that silence, to bear witness to the haunting beauty of lives held in limbo, and to remember, perhaps, that love doesn’t always come in forms that make sense. This is a chilling, melancholic journey, but for those willing to tread it, it’s a journey beautifully worth taking.
May 28, 2024
Lifers
By: K.C. Blume
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
⚠️ ALWAYS CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS⚠️
I have been waiting for this book to be released on KU. It was worth the wait. It is a short read but a lot happens in those few pages. Seeing some of Blair and Riley’s life and experiences was eye opening. It is a heavy read so please check the trigger warnings. It is not a happy ending book. It shows the reality of life but that’s what made me fall in love with the story. It’s not your average dark romance. If you are able to handle it I would definitely suggest reading it. Their stories are touching and heart breaking.
By: K.C. Blume
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
⚠️ ALWAYS CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS⚠️
I have been waiting for this book to be released on KU. It was worth the wait. It is a short read but a lot happens in those few pages. Seeing some of Blair and Riley’s life and experiences was eye opening. It is a heavy read so please check the trigger warnings. It is not a happy ending book. It shows the reality of life but that’s what made me fall in love with the story. It’s not your average dark romance. If you are able to handle it I would definitely suggest reading it. Their stories are touching and heart breaking.
April 27, 2024
Love love love
Make sure to check trigger warnings before hand but love!
At only 98 pages I wasn’t sure how much of an impact this would have on me, but when I say this will be living rent free in my mind for a while to come I mean it.
I love Riley and Blaire, their connection, relationship, everything about all of their broken little pieces broke me as well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
Make sure to check trigger warnings before hand but love!
At only 98 pages I wasn’t sure how much of an impact this would have on me, but when I say this will be living rent free in my mind for a while to come I mean it.
I love Riley and Blaire, their connection, relationship, everything about all of their broken little pieces broke me as well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
September 9, 2024
4.5 Stars
June 9, 2025
Могло бути краще.
можливо через розмір твору, не було можливості розкрити більше персонажів, ситуацію, їх історію, їх почуття.
в цілому, непоганий досвід dark ff romance
можливо через розмір твору, не було можливості розкрити більше персонажів, ситуацію, їх історію, їх почуття.
в цілому, непоганий досвід dark ff romance
Read
April 29, 2024I received this as an ARC! Fascinating little novella. Once I started it I could not put it down, the characters were very real and indescribably compelling and I rapidly read the entire thing in one sitting. Lifers was, in many ways, a painfully accurate and stark, apathetic look at the patriarchal abuse women in psychiatric institutions face. I was really struck by the ways in which Blair and Riley’s story and romance were haunted by the men who had hurt or exploited them—the doctor, the orderly, the “friend” rapist from Blair’s past. Their romance never truly was allowed to flourish not just because of their lifer/temporary patient status and their mental illness but largely because the trauma and institutional violence inflicted on them by the men around them. It was a bleak, painful read as a result but despite this I never felt slowed down or discouraged, throughout it I maintained momentum. Blume's style carries you swiftly, and manages to mimic the dead, empty, resigned feeling the characters carry. I do wish it was longer and we got to learn more about both Riley and Blair’s history, as well as see their relationship develop before it devolves. It could have easily been extended into a rich novel. That being said, I don’t think the fast pace or claustrophobic containment to Elsberry was a weakness, it just served to further reinforce the madness of their downward spiral and the intense gothic interiority of the place-specific horror. I’ll be thinking about this story for awhile, that’s for certain.
May 8, 2024
“Dᴇᴀᴛʜ ɪs ᴀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍʟᴇss, sᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ. Iᴛ’s ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ I’ᴠᴇ ғᴇʟᴛ ɪɴ ʏᴇᴀʀs, ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ’s ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ I’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴇᴀʀᴄʜɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ.”
• I read this book in a little over an hour if that tells you something. When I say I was sprinting, I mean it. It is a shorter book, but I couldn’t read it fast enough!
• Blair and Riley. Two amazing FMCS. Their dynamic is so heavy and intense. I mean to start, the fact they are in an institute, and are dealing with their own demons. Their idgaf about rules or much of anything at all mind sets. I’ve personally been in Blairs shoes, and literally from Page 1 was bonded to her. I never knew I wanted or needed to relate so much to an FMCs trauma. Until it was in front of me. Not to take away from Riley, she has her own issues and situation too. I felt bad for her and wanted her to thrive so bad. And she did in a way, with Blair.
• Check Trigger Warnings, this might be a little heavy for some.
• I read this book in a little over an hour if that tells you something. When I say I was sprinting, I mean it. It is a shorter book, but I couldn’t read it fast enough!
• Blair and Riley. Two amazing FMCS. Their dynamic is so heavy and intense. I mean to start, the fact they are in an institute, and are dealing with their own demons. Their idgaf about rules or much of anything at all mind sets. I’ve personally been in Blairs shoes, and literally from Page 1 was bonded to her. I never knew I wanted or needed to relate so much to an FMCs trauma. Until it was in front of me. Not to take away from Riley, she has her own issues and situation too. I felt bad for her and wanted her to thrive so bad. And she did in a way, with Blair.
• Check Trigger Warnings, this might be a little heavy for some.
April 24, 2024
Lifers is a beautifully written but emotional novella. It follow the two main characters who are currently patients in a psychiatric unit and I love both of them. I was definitely in my feels reading this, but I'm glad I did. Definitely check the trigger warnings and be aware of your mental health before reading this. But I do think it portrays the struggle of those with mental health issues and provides insight as to how they work towards healing.
Thank you to K.C. Blume for the chance to read an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to K.C. Blume for the chance to read an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2024
this was wild
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